Tears streamed down my face as I gave up hope, shaking my head in disbelief. Then, to my horror, gasps erupted from the crowd. My mother clutched her chest, her face contorted in pain.
“Call an ambulance!” Jasmine yelled in panic at the audience. “Mrs. Smith is having a heart attack!”
“MOM!” I rushed towards her but it was already too late.
Her breath was ragged as she cupped my face, whispering softly in a heavy breath, "Amara... I am so... sorry. Please... please... take care of yourself... do what's best for you... I love you... my daughter." Her eyes fluttered closed and hands slipped off. Tears streamed down my face as a choked sob escaped my lips. "Mom! Mom! Please..." I screamed, my voice thick with despair.
In that shattering moment, my heart ached with a grief so deep that it felt like it would break me in two. My mother's sudden death had turned my wedding day into a funeral.
On the morning of the burial, I made a decision. My supposed relatives, the ones who had mocked us in life, wouldn't be there to witness her final goodbye. They didn't deserve the honor. Jessie, my only true friend, stood beside me, her eyes filled with silent understanding.